The Broncos opened the free-agent period Thursday night by going after a pair of veteran running backs.

J.J. Harrington of the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia’s Correll Buckhalter are coming in for visits today.

Arrington, 26, is a versatile back who had 187 yards rushing and 255 yards receiving last season for the NFC champion Cardinals.

Buckhalter, 30, had 369 yards rushing and 324 yards receiving last season for the Eagles.

The Broncos are also expected to meet with Miami Dolphins safety Renaldo Hill.

Peterson hits market

High school stuff only goes so far in the NFL.

Broncos defensive end Kenny Peterson, a freshman while Broncos coach Josh McDaniels was a senior at McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio, was not signed to a new contract and hit the free-agent market as of 10:01 p.m. MST Thursday.

Peterson, who mostly played with McDaniels’ younger brother Ben at McKinley High, figured to be the Broncos’ only free-agent-to-be with a chance of coming back because he can play the specific type of a defensive end the team requires as it converts to the 3-4 defense.

“Kenny is extremely impressed with the Broncos’ new coach, and Kenny is very open to returning there,” said Joel Segal, Peterson’s agent. “There have been discussions.”

But Peterson and the Broncos will first explore the free-agent market.

Veteran center Tom Nalen will officially retire once he files the paperwork.

Big free-agent budget

The NFL revealed the Broncos carried $37 million of salary cap space into the opening of free agency Thursday night.

It should be noted cap figures are not the dollar-to-dollar equivalent of cash. Still, the NFL reported Thursday that only three teams — Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Philadelphia — have more cap room than the Broncos.

And if all goes according to plan, the Broncos will use much of their budget by early next week. The top freeagent priorities are right cornerback, where the St. Louis’ Ron Bartell would be considered the best available, and safety, where Rodney Harrison, Will Allen and James Butler could draw interest.

Bartell did hit the market late Thursday expecting a five-year deal approaching $40 million. Nevertheless, the Broncos were among the teams who expressed interest in him. He will visit New Orleans today.

Other cornerbacks the Broncos may be considering are Tampa Bay’s Phillip Buchanon and Pittsburgh’s Bryant McFadden.

The Broncos also were expected to call the agent of Tampa Bay receiver Michael Clayton. Nose tackle is another priority position. Possibilities are Atlanta’s Grady Jackson, Green Bay’s Colin Cole and New England’s Mike Wright.

Other needs for the Broncos are inside linebacker, defensive end, backup quarterback and running back.

More in Sports

It was expected to be a showcase for NCAA hockey … and it lived up to the billing. On the opening night of a rare regular-season two-game matchup of the top two teams in the national rankings, the No. 2 Denver Pioneers got a goal and two assists from forward Troy Terry and knocked off No. 1 Minnesota Duluth 4-3...

MONTREAL — It’s a big deal to play or coach hockey in Montreal and Toronto, and for first-year Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, it’s bound to be extra special because it will be his first time in those historic Original Six markets. Indeed, the Canadian native from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, has never been to the Bell Centre or Air Canada Centre — where...